The Samurai Blue are poised to make their mark in North America, after securing their first-ever spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Japan as a non-host nation. Japan came in first-place in the Asian qualifying tournament by a decisive margin and are also one of Japan's most problematic dark horses, being a team laced with European players.
Japan comes into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the 18th ranked team in the world, and has established a reputation for beating great teams. In Qatar 2022, the Samurai Blue have defeated Germany (twice), Brazil and England, all of whom are ranked above them in the FIFA World Rankings.
Tokyo-based Hajime Moriyasu is in charge of his second World Cup as head coach. The 56-year-old former Japan international has developed a side that can be flexible in both the attacking and transition game. Moriyasu normally plays with a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 line-up which he varies to suit the opposition, and he is not afraid to make changes to his team without losing a competitive edge.
The number of times he's played against top-ranked opponents is especially impressive. Japan had a month of victories in March 2025, beating Scotland 1-0 away and England 1-0 at Wembley, which means Samurai Blue was the first Asian side to defeat England on English soil. Those figures highlighted the progress Japan has made under Moriyasu's watch.
Captain: Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC)
FIFA Ranking: 18th (as of 2026)
Tactics: High pressing, technically disciplined, tactically flexible
The domination of Japan in their path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Samurai Blue, who sat alongside Australia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China and Bahrain in the Asian qualifying group, came out on top of the table with 23 points, four points ahead of second-placed Australia.
On 20th March 2025, Japan was the first non-host country to clinch their spot in the 2026 tournament with a 2-0 victory in Saitama against Bahrain. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo were the goals that made it, with the players and coach Moriyasu raising the water cannon for the win, but promising that it is just the first of many to come.
| Stat | Result |
| Final Position | 1st in Group |
| Points | 23 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Goals Scored | 30 |
| Goals Conceded | 3 |
| Top Qualifiers | Daichi Kamada & Kōki Ogawa (4 goals each) |
The 30 goals they scored and only three conceded in 10 games is a tale of a team that never faced any threat in qualification. It would be Japan's eighth time in the FIFA World Cup, which they had entered in 1998.
Japan has joined Group F with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. All three of Japan's group-stage fixtures will be played in the USA or Mexico.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | City |
| June 14, 2026 | Netherlands | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas, USA |
| June 21, 2026 | Tunisia | Estadio BBVA | Guadalupe, Mexico |
| June 25, 2026 | Sweden | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas, USA |
The match against the Netherlands in the group stage opener will be a crucial moment. The Dutch are the group's leading seed, but Japan has had great form against high ranked European countries before. Japan has great chances to make the leap for a spot in the round robin stage with a June 21 victory over Tunisia and potentially the June 25 win over Sweden, where the front-runners are the strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak.
Japan has multiple routes to the knockout stages as the top two in every group advance, with the eight best third-placed teams moving on.
Japan's World Cup tale is certainly one of the most motivating ones found in Asian football. Qualification was always hard to come by for them: they qualified as early as 1954 but failed to qualify for the tournament for more than 40 years.
All that changed on a dramatic night in Johor Bahru, Malaysia in November 1997. Japan went to their first-ever World Cup – France 1998 – with a golden goal by Masayuki Okano in the last few seconds of their playoff against Iran. The activities were a historic event.
The 2002 tournament, which Japan co-hosted with South Korea, remains a landmark moment in Japanese football history. The Samurai Blue reached the Round of 16 for the first time on home soil, defeating Russia and Tunisia in the group stage before being eliminated by Turkey.
Japan's latest World Cup run was arguably their best one, the last occasion being Qatar 2022. They beat both Spain and Germany in the group stage and Croatia on penalties in the round of 16. Those big shots took Japan from being a participant to a contender.
The ultimate target for the 2026 season is to advance to the quarterfinals, a feat that marks the first time in Japan's football history.
Endo is the heart of the team, with a Premier League pedigree and leadership experience coming from Japan's midfield. He came back from a severe ankle injury in April 2025, and was selected in the World Cup squad, demonstrating his resilience and significance to the team.
Kubo is one of the most technically talented players in Asia, and a creative spark in Japan. He has been one of the best players for the clubs in La Liga and was the game-winner for the hosts against Bahrain when they booked their place in the tournament.
Kamada had been a good player both in the country and abroad, as he was at the top of the scoring charts in qualifying with four goals. He is able to creep in at the last minute and be able to combine in possession in tight areas, which makes him a major danger in Moriyasu's system.
Doan will provide pace and directness down the flanks, one of two scorers in Japan's dazzling comeback against Spain at Qatar 2022. A player who is always on his best game in the international arena.
The 28-year-old Brighton winger is considered Japan's most promising talent and is known for his dribbling, creativity and ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations. But, having an injury will mean Kaoru Mitoma will not be available for the 2026 World Cup, which will be a huge setback for attacking Japan.
The tournament has one of the most competitive and entertaining groups, known as Group F. Japan are in a strong position to qualify but the Netherlands are favourites. The Tunisia clash on June 21 is considered to be Japan's best chance of a knockout victory, with their final game against Sweden (with Gyökeres and Isak) being a toss-up.
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Confidence, dominance, and growing ambition have defined Japan's journey to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Samurai Blue have had it up to here with just being in the field, they want to make history and advance to a quarter-final for the first time. But there is no reason why Japan cannot cause a shock in Group F with an experienced European-based squad, a tactically astute head coach, Hajime Moriyasu, and a proven record of beating the best in the world.
They will play tough opponents in their group, including Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden, but manageable. With the Tunisia and Sweden games looming, Japan will have an opportunity to extend the run and reach the round of 16 yet again. But, from there, all is possible for a team that has already faced Germany, Spain, Brazil and England in recent years.
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Japan will have former Japan international Hajime Moriyasu at the helm. It is the second World Cup as a head coach for him.
Japan led their Asian qualifying group with 23 points, four clear of second placed Australia. They earned their 2026 spot by defeating their rivals Bahrain in Saitama on March 20, 2025, 2-0.
Keisuke Honda is the top scorer for Japan at the World Cup, netting at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups - the only Japanese to do so. Kunishige Kamamoto is Japan's top scorer with 75 goals to his name.
The first match in Japan's group stage was against the Netherlands at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas on June 14, 2026.
Japan has reached the Round of 16 four times—in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. They have not reached the quarterfinals in any of their previous events, their target for 2026.
Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) and Wataru Endo (Liverpool) are the main players without Kaoru Mitoma. Kubo's creativity and Endo's midfield leadership will be key to Japan's North American aspirations.
This article provides information up to May 2026. Squad and schedule information is tentative.
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